Razorbacks Roehl No-Hits Kansas State in 2-0

BY ANDRES FOCIL

SHREVEPORT, La. – Quick games, pitchers’ duels and no-hitters are scarce in the aluminum bat world of college baseball. But the 181 fans in attendance for game one of the Gent Classic at Fair Grounds Field between Arkansas and Kansas State on Tuesday witnessed all three rarities come together.

Scott Roehl (pronounced “RAIL”) pitched the 11th no-hitter in Arkansas history as the Razorbacks (13-11) shut out the Wildcats (7-12) 2-0 in a game that included just three hits by both teams and was played in one hour and 54 minutes.

A true freshman from Somers, Wis., and a 16th-round selection of the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2000 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft, Roehl (2-2) had pitched just 19 innings in five appearances prior to Tuesday’s no-hitter. It was the Hogs’ first no-hitter in five years and first complete game of the season.

Roehl struck out five and walked two on 120 pitches while KSU made solid contact just twice, both in the seventh inning. Josh Cavender’s sharply hit grounder skipped past UA shortstop Jeff Fletcher for the Razorbacks’ only error. Mark English followed with a fly ball to deep left field that was caught by Brian Kirby to end the seventh inning.

J.D.Loudabarger lined out to UA second baseman Brett Hagedorn to end the game, prompting Roehl’s teammates to swarm him in celebration.